Theme ideas

Let's brainstorm and vote (in discussion area?) for what we want our theme to be.

Considerations:

• We've got experts in the room
• We also have folks with FAR less enthusiasm and interest in our goals
• The lack of enthusiasm can be caused by a fear that the baby will get thrown out with the bathwater. Many librarians think that "techies" don't value books. Show librarians that the goal of CFF is creating better readers, better thinkers, better writers and the enthusiasm will incease.
• These folks have Master's Degrees in their fields and have field experience that IS relevant. We need to solicit their opinions. We're not the keeper of all knowledge on the topic
• We have three hours so our scope is limited
• We can't teach/show them everything
• Librarians generally integrate their lessons into the content of other teachers, and they often team teach. Collaboration is the cornerstone to their ed theory so it's a natural fit w/CFF. This also gives them broad background into what other teachers want and need.

Ideas for Themes:

• Consider that the theme for the PSLA Conference is MakeYourMark@Your Library. How do our ideas lead into what they will be hearing at their workshops over the next two-three days? I looked at their workshops and they really vary. The point is that everyone has different needs. Perhaps something like Librarians and CFF Coaches: Teaming to Make the Mark. As a librarian, I would want to know what the CFF Coach can do to help me "make my mark." First step would be a program analysis: Where am I missing the mark? (The librarians might choose any of the ideas in the buttons below: 21st Century Skills, Resource Publication, Electronic Outreach, Professional Development) Then What do I Need to Hit the Mark? Is there a 21st century tool that would help? Then On Your Mark, Get Set Go: what can the CFF Coach do to help me meet my goals. Even if the coach isn't there with the librarian, the librarian could prepare a list of requests for the coach.
• "Making Your Library THE Place to Be" (variations on that idea) - THis is probably the same as the next two stated themes
• "Is there is Disconnect between your library and student needs?" - If they are saying that kids aren't coming to the library, then let's brainstorm why. Librarians do NOT want to hear that kids aren't concerned about Primary sources, etc. But, the fact is that the kids need to be able to find copyright safe media materials, good web resources, and also be able to manage it.Is ANYONE teaching that? Imagine a library which DOES teach it.
• "(Re)Defining Your Library for 21st Century Demands" - here we can get them involved in defining what "21st Century Demands/Skills" are and then showing tools that address those skills. - hmmm... needs more thought
• "Resources - how to make them known to others - wikis and Moodle?"--This topic idea was posted on a Google Doc where Librarian-Coaches discuss their ideas for professional development. It fits well the discussion we had this afternoon. Coaches and Librarians could design an action plan for them to work together to develop a resource page of quality sources for teachers. (Terry)
• If we're exploring the theme of Libraries as 21st Century Learning Centers (and we might want to look at the separate benefits for students, teachers, AND the community), we could discuss the coach/librarian partnership in leading professional learning communities (study groups) in both physical and virtual spaces. This could be a follow up or natural result of Terry's idea and seems to make sense with the closely knit roles of coaches and librarians. For example, what are some strategies librarians and coaches can use to identify the professional development needs of their staff to better serve them? What criteria should be used to select professional reading material? How can coaches and librarians promote professional growth and collaboration to best serve and support staff? How can Web 2.0 tools be used to promote collaboration among teachers (as in Terry's idea above)? Perhaps we can use Terry's activity and these questions as a guide and model for PD, while reaping the benefit of a created resource all at the same time.
• SAS: I'm still an advocate for introducing librarians to SAS as I didn't see this listed in any of their workshops. Librarians have much to offer in developing SAS and providing resources. They seem to have been rather neglected in the rollout. However, this might not be the proper time/place as Holly's description of the workshop focusing on the integration of technology and 21st century learning skills.